Improvement in railway stock-cars



Amos` RANK. Improvement in `Railway Stock Cars.

\ Patented Marhl2,1872f.

M @Kwik Y PATENT QEEIGE,

AMos RANK, 0E SALEM, omo.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY STOCK-CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,625, dated March12, 1872.

`to remove or replace the deck by constructing it of hinged foldingsections, capable of being compactly stowed away in the car when notrequired for use. The subject-matter claimed is hereinafter clearlyspecied.

The accompanying drawing represents a vertical longitudinal sectionthrough so much of a car and its appurtenances as is necessary toillustrate my improvements, which are therein embodied in the best formknown to me.

My invention may be used in a car having all the modern improvements,such as stalls, feed and water troughs, bins, reservoirs, sprinklers,dto.; but these need no particular description, being well known.

The carA is constructed in the ordinary way, with doorways B. I alsoprefer to use hatchways C in the roof, as affording convenient access tothe stock. The middle deck D is constructed in.l sections d d1 d2,pivoted to flex vertically, so as to fold up against one end of the car,where they may be secured by suitable fastenings. The sections mayextend the whole length of the car continuously; but I prefer to dividethem centrally, so as to form two divisions, folding toward theirrespective ends of the car. In the drawing, the sections at one end areshown as constructed to fold down against the lower end of the car,while at the other end they are shown vas folding upward against theupper portion of the car. The deck is to be supported by proper ledgeson the side of the car, and by a bar, b, swinging across the doorway, onwhich suitable cross-beams rest; these, however, can readily be removedor replaced to load or unload the car. The deck may be moved into or outof position by means of a windlass and cords or other well-knownequivalent devices. Each end section d is pivoted to the car near itsrespective end so as to turn freely. The other sections fold up to it.The end-section, to which the' windlass is attached in this instance,has its pivots so arranged as to slide in vertical grooves in the sidesof the car, by which means the pivoted end of this section can be drawnto the upper'part of the'car, while the inner sections fold together andhang down against the end of the car, as shown in dotted lines in thedrawing.

I do not broadly claim movable middle decks, such having heretofore beenused, and another mode of constructing such decks being shown in anapplication for Letters Patent filed simultaneously herewith. In thatapplication the sections are shown as swinging radially around thepivots of their supports; in this case swinging supports are dispensedwith.

` I claim as my invention- 1. In a railway stock-car, a movable middledeck constructed of sections hinged together, folding vertically oneagainst the other, and extensible horizontally lengthwise of the car,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with arailway stockcar, of two series ofdeck-sections, each series hinged to its respective'end of the`car,and,

with its sections capable of folding one against the other and ofmoving` horizontally toward its respective end of the car away from thedoorways, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

AMOS RANK, Witnesses:

THOMAS KENNETT, PETER AMBLER.

